Talisay creates committee to check on field employees

Amid the allegation of extortion against some traffic enforcers in Talisay, the city government has created an oversight committee that will check on the work of government employees in the field, particularly traffic enforcers.

Talisay City Administrator Rudelyn Navarro warned government employees, particularly City of Talisay Traffic Operations Development Authority (CT-TODA) personnel, to execute their public service duties and responsibilities well.

She disclosed that she met with traffic enforcers last Wednesday and emphasized to them that they should be mindful about their actions.

In order to prevent a similar incident and also to follow up on field employees' performance, Navarro disclosed that Mayor Eduardo Gullas has created the oversight committee.

The city's consultant for peace and order, retired General Cecil Ezra Sandalo will lead the committee together with selected members.

Navarro explained that the oversight committee is not a duplication of any offices in the city government.

"In charge of all this personnel assigned in the streets, like in the field, example sa CT-TODA,mga Civil Security Unit, so ang mga function sa oversight dili mu-sapaw unsa'y trabaho sa TODA but to check nga balance ba ug naa ba gyud sa area," she said.

It was earlier reported that two traffic enforcers in Talisay had apprehended a jeepney driver and, after confiscating his license, allegedly asked for P150 for its return. This prompted the driver, identified as JuvyArgonitas, to file a complaint against the two enforcers.

According to CTTODA Head Hiram Benatiro, investigation revealed that Argonitas did not commit any traffic violations which resulted to the termination of the two traffic enforcers, Waren Caño and Gerardo Servania.

According to Navarro, the city does not need to hire a lot of personnel, adding that what matters most is the employees' discipline and commitment to their respective duty.

"If ever duna ko'y nahibaw-an, with concrete evidence of course, duna sila'y acts nga undesirable sa ilang function especially sa controversial nga pangilkil, akong giingnan nga I will be the very first person to recommend for their suspension or dismissal, and of course I would encourage complainants to file a case in court," she stressed.

Navarro is hopeful that she can see changes in the offices, particularly in CT-TODA, considering that Sinulog in Cebu City is fast approaching and they are expecting a volume of vehicles from south provinces that will be traversing through Talisay on the way to Cebu City.